J. Sterling Morton High School District 201

Morton West Fine Arts teacher named the 2019 IAEA's Secondary Art Teacher of the Year

Morton West Fine Arts Teacher Rob Moriarty Named the 2019 Illinois Art Educators Association’s Secondary Art Teacher of the Year

Berwyn, IL (August 23, 2019) – The IAEA committee stated that they selected Mr. Moriarty for this prestigious award because of his professional performance, service, and leadership as a secondary educator to be exemplary. Currently, he teaches design, video and visual art at Morton West High School

in Berwyn, IL, and the Visual Art PLT leader where he collaborates with his colleagues to develop challenging, differentiated curriculum that will allow students to become the best version of themselves. Mr. Moriarty has been teaching in the Fine Arts department at J. Sterling Morton District 201 since 1998. Throughout this time, Rob has served his students and colleagues in several meaningful ways. Most recently, in conjunction with our fall 2018 musical, In The Heights, Rob produced the Fronteras Community Art Music Video and Street Art Curriculum, a project that included more than 400 students and faculty members who created visual art, recorded music, and produced a music video. The video has had over 1,000 views since its release on social media. “Rob is an educator who embodies the motto of our district, ‘Every Student Succeeds,’” Karen O’Connor, Director of Social Science and Fine Arts, said.

In addition to creating art in our schools, he has also provided his creative and talented services to local communities like his hometown, Lemont, IL. Rob is one of the founding members of the Art and Culture Commission of Lemont and has led many large-scale public art projects in the village. Recently Rob was also highlighted on the Village of Lemont’s Facebook page for his recent award, and for the service he has provided to the village.